A fresh start for Harambee Stars dawned at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara, in Abidjan, Coted’Ivoire.Another ray of hope for Kenyan football enthusiasts in the country was set in motion with the recruitment of former South African international Benni McCarthy.The former Manchester United first-team coach’s initial task came in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier, and who better to come up against than the man who has won the past two FKF Premier League titles, Johnathan McKinstry, now with The Gambian national team.In this tactical analysis piece, we set out to understand how McCarthy set up his team against the Gambians and the in-game changes adapted to secure a hard-fought 3-3 draw.##NAJAVA_MECA_8791975##A tale of trusting the establishment, tweaking, and the probable dawn of a new era.Kenya set up in a 1-4-2-3-1 formation, and Ian Otieno started in goal with Erick ‘Marcelo’ Ouma and Rooney Onyango occupying the fullback positions.Danish-based defender Daniel Anyembe started at left center back with the long-awaited return of Brian Mandela at right center back.Central midfield consisted of Anthony Akumu, Ismael Gonzalez, and Richard Odada. John Avire and Eric Johana flanked Michael Olunga in attack.Player Ratings: Benni McCarthy kicks off tenure with spirited draw against GambiaMcKinstry set his side up in a 1-5-2-3 formation. In his pre-match interviews, the Gambia coach had hinted at expecting a different Kenyan team, aside from the normal dull Kenya, who would be heavily defensive-minded and look to score from set-pieces.This seemed to influence his set-up, deviating from his normal 4-2-3-1. Gambia had conceded nine goals in four matches prior to meeting Kenya. They, however, were not struggling to score, with the same nine goals scored in four group matches.The majority of the attacking burden lay on Brighton and Hove Albion star Yakuba Minteh and Al-Taawoun’s Musa Barrow.Bajaber appreciation post. pic.twitter.com/YN9WwQpAwo— Bree Mo’ngina! (@beebree0) March 20, 2025 Kenya looked to play out with low output, going in a 2-4-4 structure from goalkick.Kenya build up2-4-4 vsThe Gambia’s 5-4-1 midblockThis was with the aim of getting control and progressing play as a unit through the phases, with the ball going from center back to fullback, then into the midfield or directly behind into the striker.On settled possession, Kenya shifted into a 3-3-4 set-up, Gonzalez, and Odada alternating with one dropping between the center backs to aid in progression.Some interesting patterns included Akumu slotting into the fullback role or in the right halfspace in the progression phase; if he slotted wide the fullback, Onyango occupied the right halfspace slot in buildup with Avire starting wide then coming inside.##NAJAVA_MECA_8790112##In the progression and creation phase, Kenya clearly struggled with the midfield out of sorts; there was no clear connection or link between the first phase and final phase of play.The Kenyan midfielders struggled to get any passing rhythm. This heavily affected creation, with Johanna and Avire struggling to have the ball played into them. Their main role was to play inside and have the fullbacks push really up.Gambia looked to let the Kenyan center backs play from the goalkeeper; the on-advancing looked to trigger in the wide areas.Harambee Stars show grit in high-scoring battle against The Gambia, fans reactIn the midblock, Gambia came out in a commendable 5-4-1. The center forward Ali Sowe looked to force to one side, with inside forwards Barrow and Minteh eyeing the fullbacks.Gambian central midfield duo Mahmudu Bajo and Abubakr Barry looked to jump on the Kenyan central midfielders, with the backline going 5v4 against Kenya’s attackers.Rooney Onyango and Eric Ouma let in some decent deliveries when Kenya managed to overload the last line of the Gambian defense line, Olunga missing a clear-cut chance off these wide area combinations and a sumptuous cross from Onyango.55′ 🇬🇲 1-0 🇰🇪 61′ 🇬🇲 2-0 🇰🇪 69′ 🇬🇲 2-1 🇰🇪 75′ 🇬🇲 2-2 🇰🇪 84′ 🇬🇲 3-2 🇰🇪 90+6′ 🇬🇲 3-3 🇰🇪 The Gambia and Kenya reminded us why they call it the beautiful game. 👏 #WCQ pic.twitter.com/pjkXr8UGHV— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) March 20, 2025 Gambia had set out to employ overloads to isolate players having numerous switch balls after dragging the Kenyan team into a given area to create room for 1v1.They also employed diagonal runs in behind the Kenyan backline, winning a penalty after goalkeeper Otieno arrived a fraction late to catch the ball but ended up impeding Alieu Fadera.The South African-based keeper, plying his trade with Richard’s Bay FC, however, atoned for his error by saving Barrow’s penalty.In the second half, coach McCarthy immediately brought in an out-and-out winger in William Lenkupae.This substitution saw a change in set-up with Eric Johana moving into the attacking midfield role as Lenkupae went right wing with Avire now switching to the left wing.AFC Leopards coach blasts FKF over cup expulsion, calls out officiating biasKenya defended in a 1-4-2-3-1 formation. Things took a turn when Gambia scored off a Musa Barrow screamer. However, the most intriguing part that led to the goal was the build-up to it.On finding Yakuba Minteh on the right, Eric Ouma dragged out wide to close him down, looking to have contained the situation; however, Anyembe had not pushed closer to support, thus the ball traveling wide. Barrow received well, beat his man, and shot, leaving Ian with no chance, much to the frustrations of Ouma.The second goal had similarities to the first; left back and left center back’s distance between each other and drifting to lock the down opponent was again to blame, with Minteh capitalizing to slot past Otieno at the near post.With the game seemingly running away from Kenya, McCarthy rang the changes, bringing on Jonah Ayunga and Mohammed Bajaber, switching to a 4-4-2 with Olunga and Ayunga up top and Bajaber and Lenkupae wide.Harambee Stars hold Gambia in six-goal thrillerThis approach looked to bear fruit immediately as Kenya won the ball high, with Olunga playing the ball in behind for the run of Ayunga, who was brought down in the box, a penalty with Olunga going left low of the goalkeeper, 2-1, and the game on.Gambia struggled to sort out the positive and negative runs from Olunga and Ayunga, who managed to move well and bring the wide players into the game. This led to Bajaber receiving wide, beating his man, and slotting a beautiful effort into goal.Gambia answered by going 4-2-3-1 now, taking off the right center back for an extra attacker; this bore fruit as they scored from transition, Minteh again 1v1 against Eric, ricochet that saw Barrow slot home.##NAJAVA_MECA_8790122##With the game seemingly over and 2 minutes of added time to play, Kenya threw the kitchen sink at it. A long throw and some chaos found William Lenkupae in the box, who slotted home to make it 3-3.An entertaining encounter, with the tactical acumen of Coach Benni on show, the days of “dull” Harambee Stars could just be behind us.
